Badgers star offensive lineman transfers to Indiana
Rohan ChakravarthiWed, January 14, 2026 at 10:08 PM UTC·1 min read
Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Joe Brunner is joining the recent pipeline from Madison to Bloomington, as he is transferring to the Indiana Hoosiers, according to CBS Sports’s Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer.
Brunner, a redshirt junior in 2025, was set to be Wisconsin’s top returning offensive lineman, but elected to enter the transfer portal after mulling the opportunity to enter the 2026 NFL Draft. With one year of eligibility left, the guard was expected to have some serious suitors, with Indiana and the Texas Longhorns amongst the top of the program.
In committing to Indiana, Brunner is joining former offensive line coach Bob Bostad, who has gotten several former Badgers offensive linemen in his room over the past few years. Trey Wedig was a starter for Indiana last year on their College Football Playoff team after transferring from Wisconsin. And sophomore Drew Evans has been a full-time starter at left guard for the Hoosiers this season.
Now, Brunner will head to Indiana and join a team that has seen some significant additions come through via the transfer portal. Before that, the Hoosiers are competing for a National Championship next Monday, facing the Miami Hurricanes in the final game of the college football season.
Wisconsin made a coaching change at offensive line this offseason, hiring former Arkansas offensive line coach Eric Mateos to run the group. He has gotten four additions in the transfer portal: Ole Miss transfer P.J. Wilkins, Florida State transfer Lucas Simmons, Arkansas transfer Blake Cherry, and Oklahoma State transfer Austin Kawecki.
Brunner, on the other hand, could be a starting option at either guard or tackle for the Hoosiers in 2026.
